Chip Links Digital & Physical Worlds
HP’s researchers have developed a miniature wireless data chip that could provide broad access to digital content in the physical world. With no equal in terms of its combination of size, memory capacity and data access speed, the tiny chip could be stuck on or embedded in almost any object and make available information and content now found mostly on electronic devices or the Internet.
Some of the potential applications include storing medical records on a hospital patient’s wristband; providing audiovisual supplements to postcards and photos; helping fight counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry; adding security to identity cards and passports; and supplying additional information for printed documents.
The experimental chip, developed by the “Memory Spot” research team at HP Labs, is a memory device based on CMOS (a widely used, low-power integrated circuit design) and about the size of a grain of rice or smaller (2mm to 4mm square), with a built-in antenna. The chips could be embedded in a sheet of paper or stuck to any surface, and could eventually be available in a booklet as self-adhesive dots.
The chip has a 10 megabits-per-second data transfer rate — 10 times faster than Bluetooth wireless technology and comparable to Wi-Fi speeds — effectively giving users instant retrieval of information in audio, video, photo or document form. With a storage capacity ranging from 256 kilobits to 4 megabits in working prototypes, it could store a very short video clip, several images or dozens of pages of text. Future versions could have larger capacities.
Information can be accessed by a read/write device that could be incorporated into a cell phone, PDA, camera, printer or other implement. To access information, the read/write device is positioned closely over the chip, which is then powered so that the stored data is transferred instantly to the display of the phone, camera or PDA or printed out by the printer. Users could also add information to the chip using the various devices.
The chip incorporates a built-in antenna and is completely self-contained, with no need for a battery or external electronics. It receives power through inductive coupling from a special read/write device, which can then extract content from the memory on the chip. Inductive coupling is the transfer of energy from one circuit component to another through a shared electromagnetic field. A change in current flow through one device induces current flow in the other device.
An Alternative Net Operating System
The US Patent and Trademarks Office has published the Patent Application (Publication No. 20060165040) for NetAlter Software Limited’s NetAlter Alternative to Internet and Enterprise & Social Communication Framework. The entire patent application is now available for download from the US PTO website, http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html for the term “NetAlter.”
Based on the Information Communication and Computation (ICC) Framework, the NetAlter System aims to provide an alternative to the existing Internet framework as well as offer technology that will enhance existing online and offline applications. The company is a pioneer in India for social networking solutions.
As new concerns are being raised across the globe on the unmanageability of the Internet and content available therein, efforts are on to develop alternative technologies. In this respect, NetAlter is steadily gaining recognition as a forerunner in providing alternative Internet-wide technologies and is becoming a hub for innovative solutions based on the NetAlter System. It is also licensing its technology to other developers, for developing their own solutions for NetAlter or other external applications.
At present, NetAlter Software Limited is an unlisted company with much of its investments sourced privately. However, the company has plans of sourcing funds through external private placement of equity and a mid-2007 IPO offering. Founded by IT entrepreneurs Yogesh Rathod and Rajesh Rathod, NetAlter Software Limited is the fastest growing R&D hub for cutting-edge software solutions for the social segment and has already developed solutions for community and personal networking.
The NetAlter System would incorporate some of the latest state-of-the-art computing technology such as Grid Computing, P2P networking, Multi-AI Agents, Artificial Intelligent Search Engine, Service Browser and on demand eb services. Simultaneously, NetAlter is making major investments in infrastructure and manpower this fiscal year. It has already procured over 5000 square feet of office space and has plans of hiring over 85 personnel to drive its development plans.
Apple Enters Home Audio-Video Market
According to ABI Research, Apple’s iTunes service has the potential to outstrip its formidable iPod business and may allow it to enter the home audio and video markets ahead of its competitors. Apple’s latest earnings statements surprised the markets with the continuing depth of its iPod penetration, which exceeded most analysts’ expectations. Sales of iPod accessories, both from Apple and from third parties, are booming as well, including high-quality home docking station systems.
“The battle for portable devices has already been won by iPod, unless Microsoft’s strategy for its Zune platform succeeds, but in the home and mobile markets, the prize is still up for grabs. iTunes could be a ‘Trojan Horse’ through which Apple can enter the home market sooner than the competition,” said ABI Research Director Vamsi Sistla. “The key to this opportunity is consumers’ growing interest in digital media connectivity in the home. I think we will soon see more line-powered consumer audio devices — high-end audio devices with AV receivers, and multiroom audio systems — adding support for iTunes to their current support for iPod.”
With over a billion files downloaded from iTunes so far, computers all over the world are brimming with music, speech and video, often organized by iTunes client software into playlists and catalogs. Leveraging all that content, which users have already paid for and want to hear on a good home audio system or watch on a digital-ready TV, creates a huge opening for consumer electronics vendors.
That could happen through a standard personal computer. Or, it could be implemented through a dedicated media center PC. Apple offers this already with the combination of its Mac Mini (now Intel-based) and Front Row networking software and the field is wide open for PC manufacturers and other vendors of home CE systems to capitalize on what should be a large and dynamic market.
Equipment Worth $3m Donated to Yemen
To develop local talent in the Middle East and develop the regional IT and communications sectors, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. has donated digital training equipment to Yemen’s Higher Education and Scientific Research Department.
Huawei signed the agreement to donate $100,000 worth of equipment in Sanaa. This forms a part of the $3 million worth of communications equipment earmarked to be given away this year to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Yemen.
“We are committed to developing the regional ICT sector,” said Ye Zhong, Huawei’s Yemen representative. “Huawei has invited more than 300 Yemeni engineers to China in the past few years for higher studies and training. By aiding knowledge transfer, we will be able to develop local talent and contribute to the creation of new industries in the country.”
Huawei entered the Yemen market in 1999, and employs over 90 local engineers and marketing personnel.
